NBA/ Pelicans triumph over Wizards, secure back-to-back wins

The New Orleans Pelicans cruised past the Washington Wizards, 110-98, on Sunday night, marking their second consecutive victory in a home-and-home series between the NBA’s two bottom-ranked teams.

CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 25 points, while Dejounte Murray recorded an impressive triple-double—14 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, his 20th career triple-double. Trey Murphy III contributed 22 points, showcasing New Orleans’ depth.

The Pelicans (7-29) capitalized on Washington’s struggles (6-27) to move ahead in the standings. This turnaround comes after an 11-game losing streak that New Orleans broke on Friday with a 132-120 win against the same opponent.

Kyle Kuzma delivered a strong performance for the Wizards, scoring a game-high 28 points. However, Washington felt the absence of Jordan Poole (hip) and Bilal Coulibaly (illness).

The Pelicans, still without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram due to injuries, found ways to compensate.

A decisive 17-0 run bridging the first and second quarters gave New Orleans a 14-point lead, which they maintained comfortably.

Both teams return to action Tuesday, with the Wizards hosting Houston and the Pelicans welcoming Minnesota.